The '''White Council''', or '''Council of the Wise''', was gathering of the [[Wise]] in [[Middle-earth]].

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| name=The White Council

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==First White Council==

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| othernames=The Council of the Wise<ref name="SRings">{{S|Rings}}</ref>

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The first White Council was formed after [[Sauron]]'s defeat in [[Eriador]] in [[Second Age 1701]]. The council did not include any of the [[Istari]] who had yet to come to Middle-earth. The main decision of the council was to abandon [[Eregion]] in favor of [[Imladris]].

'''The White Council''', also referred to as the Council of the Wise, was a group of the [[wise]] in [[Middle-earth]] which met irregularly. Its purpose was 'to unite and direct the forces of the [[West]], in resistance to the [[Sauron|shadow]].'<ref name="PMThird">{{PM|Third}}</ref>

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==Second White Council==

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==Members==

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The second White Council was formed in [[Third Age 2463|T.A.2463]] at the request of [[Galadriel]], and was headed by [[Saruman|Saruman the White]]. Other members of the Council included [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]], Galadriel, [[Círdan|Círdan the Shipwright]], [[Elrond|Elrond Half-Elven]], and [[Radagast|Radagast the Brown]].

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The following individuals were clearly stated to have been members of the White Council. It should be noted, however, that 'other lords of the Eldar' did join them, but were not identified.<ref name="SRings"/>

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*[[Saruman]], the appointed leader of the Council<ref name="SRings"/>

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*[[Gandalf]]<ref name="SRings"/>

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*[[Galadriel]]<ref name="SRings"/>

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*[[Elrond]]<ref name="SRings"/>

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*[[Círdan]]<ref name="SRings"/>

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In [[Third Age 2851|T.A. 2851]] this White Council met to decide on whether to act on Gandalf's discovery of the identity of the [[Necromancer]], but Saruman disuaded the others.

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==History==

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===The Second Age===

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A "White Council" first met in c. {{SA|1701}}.<ref group="note">In {{UT|Concerning}} it states that 'At this time the first Council was held'. The 'At this time' follows on from the driving out of Sauron from [[Eregion]], which occurred {{SA|1701}} according to {{App|SA}}. According to {{UT|Concerning}}, n. 10 'the first Council' was emended to 'the first White Council'.</ref> At this meeting it was decided that [[Rivendell|Imladris]] should become the stronghold of the [[Elves]] in [[Eriador]], rather in [[Eregion]].<ref name="UTConcerning">{{UT|Concerning}}</ref> No members are mentioned explicitly, but it is implied that at least [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elrond]] were members because Gil-galad gave [[Vilya]] to Elrond 'At that time also'.<ref name="UTConcerning"/> It seems likely that the "White Council" of the [[Third Age]] echoed this "White Council" of the [[Second Age]].<ref name="UTConcerningNote10">{{UT|Concerning}}, n. 10</ref>

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Eventually Saruman relented and in [[Third Age 2941]] Sauron was driven out of Dol Guldur only to re-appear in Mordor. The Council last met in [[Third Age 2953|2953]], at this meeting Saruman insisted that [[the One Ring]] has been swept out to sea.

In {{TA|2463}},<ref name="AppBTA"/> following the return of [[Sauron]] and the end of the [[Watchful Peace]] in {{TA|2460|n}},<ref name="AppBTA"/> [[Galadriel]] summoned the first meeting of the White Council.<ref name="FRMirror"/>

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[[category:Organizations]]

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There are only four known meetings of the White Council:

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#{{TA|2463}}<ref name="AppBTA"/>

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#{{TA|2851}}<ref name="AppBTA"/>

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#{{TA|2941}}<ref name="AppBTA"/>

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#{{TA|2953}}<ref name="AppBTA"/>

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At the first meeting in {{TA|2463}},<ref name="AppBTA"/> it was mooted that [[Gandalf]] be the head of the Council, but to [[Galadriel]]'s dismay he refused the office. [[Saruman]] was chosen as their chief instead and he begrudged Gandalf for being the desired candidate.<ref name="SRings"/>

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At the second meeting in {{TA|2851}},<ref name="AppBTA"/> the Council met at [[Rivendell]].<ref name="UTGandalf">{{UT|Gandalf}}</ref> Gandalf urged an attack on [[Dol Guldur]] following his discovery in the [[Third Age 2850|previous year]] that its master was indeed [[Sauron]].<ref name="AppBTA"/> Saruman overruled him because in secret he had begun to desire the [[One Ring]] for himself.<ref name="AppBTA"/> Unusually for a White Council meeting, Gandalf sat apart from the others, in silence and smoking, whilst Saruman spoke against the attack on Dol Guldur.<ref name="UTGandalf"/> This irritated Saruman and he spoke to Gandalf afterwards, asking him why he did not join in the discussion, and mocked his smoking.<ref name="UTGandalf"/> Gandalf replied, saying that pipe weed gave him 'patience' and mentioned that it was a practice of the [[Hobbits|Halflings]].<ref name="UTGandalf"/> Saruman mocked him again.<ref name="UTGandalf"/> In response Gandalf did not speak, but sent out many rings of smoke into the air and grasped them in his hand before they vanished.<ref name="UTGandalf"/> Saruman read this gesture as suggesting that Gandalf suspected him of wanting to possess the One Ring, or that there was a connection between the rings of power and the Halflings.<ref name="UTGandalf"/>

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At the third meeting in {{TA|2941}},<ref name="AppBTA"/> they agreed to attack [[Dol Guldur]]. Saruman finally submitted for he knew that Sauron was searching for the One Ring in the [[Anduin]].<ref name="AppBTA"/> The White Council launched an [[attack on Dol Guldur]], but [[Sauron]], having already made plans, fled to [[Mordor]].<ref name="AppBTA"/>

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At the fourth and final meeting in {{TA|2953}}, following Sauron's open declaration in {{TA|2951|n}},<ref name="AppBTA"/> there was a discussion on the rings of power. Saruman claimed to have knowledge that the [[One Ring]] had been lost down the [[Anduin]] and into the [[Belegaer|sea]].<ref name="AppBTA"/>

:Having arrived at [[Rivendell]] with [[Thorin and Company]], [[Gandalf]] met with [[Elrond]], [[Galadriel]], and [[Saruman]]. It seems that Gandalf was unaware that the meeting would take place. Whilst this meeting is not explicitly called the "White Council", its membership and discussion points have much in common with the White Council in [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s writings. Much of the history of the [[Third Age]] is conflated and substantially altered. Gandalf told the Council that [[Radagast]] had found [[Dol Guldur]] occupied by a [[Sauron|Necromancer]]. Saruman was very sceptical of Radagast's story and dismissed Gandalf for believing him. Gandalf and Galadriel converse telepathically before the wizard showed the Council a [[Morgul blades|morgul blade]] which belonged to the [[Witch-king]]; the blade and Nazgûl had been buried together many centuries previously following the downfall of [[Angmar]].

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==See also==

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*[[:Category:Images of the White Council|Images of the White Council]]

The White Council, also referred to as the Council of the Wise, was a group of the wise in Middle-earth which met irregularly. Its purpose was 'to unite and direct the forces of the West, in resistance to the shadow.'[4]

At the first meeting in T.A.2463,[3] it was mooted that Gandalf be the head of the Council, but to Galadriel's dismay he refused the office. Saruman was chosen as their chief instead and he begrudged Gandalf for being the desired candidate.[1]

At the second meeting in T.A.2851,[3] the Council met at Rivendell.[7] Gandalf urged an attack on Dol Guldur following his discovery in the previous year that its master was indeed Sauron.[3] Saruman overruled him because in secret he had begun to desire the One Ring for himself.[3] Unusually for a White Council meeting, Gandalf sat apart from the others, in silence and smoking, whilst Saruman spoke against the attack on Dol Guldur.[7] This irritated Saruman and he spoke to Gandalf afterwards, asking him why he did not join in the discussion, and mocked his smoking.[7] Gandalf replied, saying that pipe weed gave him 'patience' and mentioned that it was a practice of the Halflings.[7] Saruman mocked him again.[7] In response Gandalf did not speak, but sent out many rings of smoke into the air and grasped them in his hand before they vanished.[7] Saruman read this gesture as suggesting that Gandalf suspected him of wanting to possess the One Ring, or that there was a connection between the rings of power and the Halflings.[7]

At the fourth and final meeting in T.A.2953, following Sauron's open declaration in 2951,[3] there was a discussion on the rings of power. Saruman claimed to have knowledge that the One Ring had been lost down the Anduin and into the sea.[3]

Portrayal in adaptations

Having arrived at Rivendell with Thorin and Company, Gandalf met with Elrond, Galadriel, and Saruman. It seems that Gandalf was unaware that the meeting would take place. Whilst this meeting is not explicitly called the "White Council", its membership and discussion points have much in common with the White Council in Tolkien's writings. Much of the history of the Third Age is conflated and substantially altered. Gandalf told the Council that Radagast had found Dol Guldur occupied by a Necromancer. Saruman was very sceptical of Radagast's story and dismissed Gandalf for believing him. Gandalf and Galadriel converse telepathically before the wizard showed the Council a morgul blade which belonged to the Witch-king; the blade and Nazgûl had been buried together many centuries previously following the downfall of Angmar.